BOSTON ? The Celtics relied on a balanced scoring attack and excellent defense to repel Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks 120-106 on Tuesday night before a sell-out crowd at the TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown scored 30 points ? becoming the youngest Celtics player to score 30+ points in a playoff game -- and Terry Rozier ably filled in the void left by star guard Kyrie Irving as he added 23 points and 8 assists as they led four more Celtics in double figures. Marcus Morris contributed 18 points, veteran Al Horford chipped in 16 points and 4 assists, Greg Monroe had 12 points and 4 boards, and Shane Larkin finished with 11 markers and 3 assists.
Boston had a 60-51 lead in the first half and scored 21 points overall off 15 Milwaukee turnovers.
The Celtics reserves provided plenty of support by outscoring the Milwaukee?s bench 41-25, effectively sealing the fate of the Bucks as they led as much as 20 in the final quarter on a Larkin lay-up with 7:22 left.
Antetokounmpo topscored for the Bucks with a near triple-double effort with 30 points, 8 assists and 9 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 25 points and 4 boards.
At the post-media presscon, the ?Greek Freak? was asked if his team has to play with more effort ? an observation also seconded by his Bucks coach earlier.
?I think as a team, we did not show up tonight. Hopefully, we can go back home, play better and get those two wins,? he said.
Down 2-0 in the series, Milwaukee will try to even up at home for Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven 1st round playoffs.
Boston went 48-for-90 for a 53.3% clip while Milwaukee had 46-for-77 for 59.7% field goal conversion.
Game 3 is Friday, April 20.
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Oliver Iglesias.